(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from July 1, 1993).

By Chris Berdis

TIMES NEWS Staff

“They burnt me the first time with the throwback to (Catsauqua’s Jon) Linton,” stated East Penn linebacker Dave Lysek. “They weren’t going to do it again.”

Bethlehem Catholic’s Lysek would be waiting the second time around when Colonial/Centennial/Independent coach Bob Mitchell (Northwestern) made the call.

That call came with exactly 20 seconds left in the game as Lysek picked off a Mark Madson pass that was intended for Northwestern’s Shawn Paras.

Lysek’s interception preserved a 7-6 win for the East Penn All-Stars over CCI in the 23rd Annual McDonald’s Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic in front of 5,500 fans at Andrew S. Leh Stadium.

With the East Penn All-Stars ahead 7-6 with 1:26 remaining in the game, CCI found themselves 55 yards from paydirt.

The first play from scrimmage found Paras sacked for a seven-yard loss. But on the very next play, Paras found Pleasant Valley’s Kevin Nagle on the right side with a pass. Nagle romped 28 yards to the East Penn 33.

With :38 left, Paras rolled left and found no one open. He tucked the pigskin away and headed up field for a 12-yard gain.

With :25 remaining, Paras threw an incomplete pass to Jason Andrews (Catasauqua) to stop the clock. It was now third and 17 from the 27, and Mitchell and company would go to the throwback. They needed a little luck to complete the pass.

They didn’t get it as Lysek was waiting with open arms.

“Coach put me back into the ballgame even though it wasn’t my rotation,” stated Lysek. “I was to watch Linton out of the backfield. He wasn’t in, but the QB came out and I just picked him up.”

“If the ball is another two inches further, Shawn catches it instead of being intercepted,” stated Mitchell. “The game came down to a matter of inches. We were two inches short.”

East Penn broke on top in the first quarter as they took advantage of a CCI fumble, which was recovered by Becahi’s Joe Albertson on the 18-yard line.

Five plays later, tailback Juan Gaddy of Easton went around the right end untouched to give the East Penn a 6-0 lead at the 5:20 mark.

The kick by Becahi’s Michael Kramer hit the left pole and crossed over to move the score to 7-0.

Both clubs struggled offensively until the 9:01 mark of the second quarter when CCI struck paydirt. After a 19-yard punt, CCI took over on the 48-yard line.

Paras found flanker Andrews streaking down the left side. Paras scrambled out of the pocket and threw the rock into the end zone as Andrews cruised underneath the pigskin and cut the lead to one.

“That play I’ll always remember,” stated Paras. “The play was loose pro right 21 waggle and we knew we could beat their corners.”

The extra point kick by Palmerton’s Eric Haydt was wide left, which left the score 7-6 in favor of East Penn.

Both clubs could not mount scoring threats the rest of the half and they went into the intermission with CCI behind 7-6.

“We went into halftime and talked about being our worst enemies because of turnovers and penalties,” stated Mitchell. “We had two opportunities in the fourth quarter to score and were unable.”

CCI’s first opportunity in the second half came in the fourth quarter on a 12-play drive which stalled on the 16-yard line. The blue-and-white-clad CCI attempted a field goal but was denied with a poor boot.

“We had fun tonight and these kids put this game back into its proper perspective,” stated Mitchell. “They went out and played good clean football.”